11tr(U.S.)to cancel (the name of a candidate) from a party ticket in an election

12intr; often foll by: for(Austral)informalto be struggling or in difficulty, esp. in earning a living

13to treat (a subject) superficially

14♦
you scratch my back and I'll scratch yoursif you will help me, I will help youn

15the act of scratching

16a slight injury

17a mark made by scratching

18a slight grating sound

19(in a handicap sport)

aa competitor or the status of a competitor who has no allowance or receives a penalty

b(as modifier)a scratch player

20the time, initial score, etc., of such a competitor

21

athe line from which competitors start in a race

b(formerly) a line drawn on the floor of a prize ring at which the contestants stood to begin or continue fighting

22a withdrawn competitor in a race, etc.

23(Billiards, etc.)

aa shot that results in a penalty, as when the cue ball enters the pocket

ba lucky shot

24poultry food

25♦
from scratchInformalfrom the very beginning

26♦
up to scratchusually used with a negativeInformalup to standardadj

27(Sport)(of a team) assembled hastily

28(in a handicap sport) with no allowance or penalty

29Informalrough or haphazard,(See also)
→
scratches→
scratch together(C15: via Old French escrater from Germanic; compare Old High German krazzon (German kratzen); related to Old French gratter to grate1)♦
scratchern♦
scratchyadj♦
scratchilyadv♦
scratchinessn

scratch filen(Computing)a temporary store for use during the execution of a program

scratch padn

1(Chiefly U.S. and Canadian)a notebook, esp. one with detachable leaves

2(Computing)a small semiconductor memory for temporary storage

scratch sheetn(U.S. and Canadian)informalanother term for a→
dope sheet

scratch testn(Med)a skin test to determine allergic sensitivity to various substances by placing the allergen to be tested over an area of lightly scratched skin. A positive reaction is typically indicated by the formation of a weal

scratch together, upvbtr, advto assemble with difficultyhe scratched up a team for the football match

scratch videonthe technique or practice of recycling images from films or television to make collages

standard scratch scoren(Golf)the number of strokes a scratch player would need to go round a particular course, based on the length of each hole to the green and allowing 36 putts for the round